Casamanche 45 Information, Review, Specs

Sailing Performance & Handling

The Casamance 45 is a product of an era that prioritized light weight over the massive internal volume found in contemporary "condo-marans." Constructed using a vacuum-bagged GRP and PVC foam-core sandwich, the boat remains remarkably light for its size, often displacing roughly half of what a modern 45-foot catamaran weighs today. This low displacement-to-length ratio, combined with a generous sail plan, allows the Casamance to perform exceptionally well in light air.

According to technical retrospectives by Joubert-Nivelt, the move to fixed keels was intended to optimize the boat for blue-water tracking and ease of maintenance. While it lacks the extreme upwind pointing ability of a daggerboard-equipped boat, the Casamance 45 is noted for its sea-kindliness and ability to maintain high average speeds on a reach. Owners frequently report that the boat feels balanced and "stiff," thanks to the buoyancy provided by the foam sandwich construction. However, because the hulls are relatively narrow compared to modern designs, the Casamance is sensitive to being overloaded; excessive weight in the form of heavy davits or oversized battery banks can significantly dampen its lively sailing characteristics.

Interior Comfort & Variations

The interior of the Casamance 45 marked the beginning of Fountaine Pajot’s signature "panoramic" salon design. While the coachroof profile is much lower than modern models, the bridgedeck salon offers nearly 360-degree visibility, a revolutionary feature in the mid-1980s. The woodwork is typically finished in light ash or teak veneers, creating a bright, airy atmosphere that avoids the "tunnel" feeling common in older multihulls.

The model was produced in several configurations to suit different markets. The "Maestro" or owner’s version typically features a dedicated hull for the owner with a large head and office space, while the "Quatuor" version—popular in early European charter fleets—offers a four-cabin, four-head layout. Because the Casamance 45 is essentially a lengthened Casamance 43, the extra length in the stern provides significantly easier boarding from a dinghy and better access to the engine compartments, which are located under the aft berths or in dedicated transom lockers. Sibling models built on this design philosophy include the smaller Fidji 39 and the larger, more luxurious Maldives 32, which experimented with different bridgedeck heights and interior volumes.

Popular Mentions & Media

The Casamance series earned its reputation as a rugged blue-water voyager through its early dominance in the Atlantic Rally for Cruisers (ARC). During the late 1980s and early 1990s, the Casamance was one of the most common multihulls to complete trans-Atlantic crossings, helping to dispel the then-common myth that catamarans were unsafe for the open ocean. Its cultural footprint is also tied to the birth of the modern catamaran charter industry; the model was a staple of early fleets in the Caribbean and the Mediterranean, establishing the template for the layouts still used by companies like Sunsail and The Moorings today.

Known Issues & Buyer’s Checklist

Prospective buyers of a Casamance 45 should focus on the integrity of the sandwich construction and the age of the systems.

• Core Delamination: As a foam-cored vessel from the 1980s, it is critical to inspect the decks and hulls for "soft spots" or delamination, particularly around stanchion bases, windlasses, and escape hatches where water ingress can compromise the PVC foam.
• Osmosis: While Fountaine Pajot’s construction methods were advanced for the time, early polyester resins are susceptible to osmotic blistering. A thorough moisture meter survey of the hulls below the waterline is essential.
• Bridgedeck Slamming: Like many catamarans of this vintage, the bridgedeck clearance is lower than on modern designs. Buyers should inspect the underside of the bridgedeck for stress cracks or previous repairs resulting from heavy pounding in head seas.
• Rigging and Chainplates: The loads on a catamaran rig are significantly higher than on a monohull of similar size. Given the age of these vessels, the standing rigging and the attachment points at the chainplates should be scrutinized for fatigue or corrosion.
• Engine Access: While the 45's extended transoms improved access, the engine rooms remain tighter than those on modern boats. Check for signs of deferred maintenance caused by difficult access to filters, impellers, and heat exchangers.

Community & Resources

The Fountaine Pajot owner community is one of the most active in the multihull world. Technical support and historical data are primarily shared through the Fountaine Pajot Owners Group, a global network that provides peer-to-peer advice on refitting older models like the Casamance. Additionally, the Joubert-Nivelt Design Archive remains a vital resource for understanding the original scantlings and hull lines of the vessel.

The Verdict

The Casamance 45 is a "sailor’s catamaran" that offers a bridge between the high-performance multihulls of the racing circuit and the comfortable cruising platforms of today. It is an ideal choice for a buyer who prioritizes sailing speed and aesthetic lines over maximum interior volume.

Pros:

• Excellent light-air performance due to low displacement.
• Timeless, low-profile aesthetic that avoids the "boxy" look of modern cats.
• Proven blue-water pedigree with numerous circumnavigations.

Cons:

• Lower bridgedeck clearance can lead to noisy "slamming" in choppy conditions.
• Narrower hulls offer less storage and cabin volume than modern competitors.
• Age-related maintenance of foam-core sandwich construction requires a vigilant owner.